QX3 Time-Lapse Movie Gallery

Succinimide

Succinimide is a diketopyrrolidine that is prepared by rapid distillation of ammonium succinate. Therapeutically, succinimide is used to prevent oxalic lithiasis. When recrystallized from the melt, succinimide will slowly crystallize, forming beautiful dendritic needle-like crystals. The time-lapse movie was made using a modified version of the Intel Play QX3 microscope equipped for polarized light illumination with a full-wave (first order) retardation plate.